Calibrachoa plant named &#39;Balcongorim&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcongorim’, characterized by its medium orange-red colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor, and compact-mounded growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Calibrachoa hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balcongorim’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant botanically known as Calibrachoa hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balcongorim’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Arroyo Grande, Calif. during March 2014. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Calibrachoa cultivars with unique flower coloration and compact, mounded growth habit.

The new Calibrachoa cultivar is the result of cross-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa hybrida breeding selection coded PN10630-1, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-red colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, semi-upright growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is the proprietary Calibrachoa hybrida breeding selection coded PN10167-1, not patented, characterized by its medium orange-red colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, low growth vigor and compact-mounded growth habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during August 2014 in a controlled environment in Arroyo Grande, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since August 2014 in Arroyo Grande, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balcongorim’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant:

-   -   1. Medium orange-red colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage;     -   3. Low growth vigor; and     -   4. Compact-mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female and male parents primarily in having a compact growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Calibrachoa cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is Conga Orange ‘Balcongor’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balcongor’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are earlier to flower than plants         of ‘Balcongor’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a larger diameter flower than         ‘Balcongor’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have more flowers per plant than         plants of ‘Balcongor’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balcongorim’. The plants were grown in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeks in a greenhouse in West Chicago, Ill. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balcongorim’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balcongorim’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in February 2017 under natural light conditions in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in a glass-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in West Chicago, Ill. in 4.5-inch pots for 9 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Plants were given one pinch one week after transplant. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 66° F. to 70° F. (19° C. to 21° C.) during the day and approximately 58° F. to 62° F. (14° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 2,500 footcandles to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa hybrida cultivar Balcongorim. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa hybrida breeding             selection coded PN10630-1, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Calibrachoa hybrida breeding             selection coded PN10167-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 8 weeks from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 10 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Low vigor,             compact-mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 6.0 cm. Width: Approximately 13.5 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, pinching enhances basal             branching. Quantity of main branches per plant:             Approximately 3.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Length: Approximately             6.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length of central             internode: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color of             young and mature stems: 144A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 12. Fragrance: Slight. Form: Simple.             Arrangement on flowering stem: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Aspect: At acute angle to stem with tip turning             downward. Shape: Elliptic. Margin: Entire. Apex: Broadly             acute. Base: Broadly attenuate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.4 cm. Width of mature             leaf: Approximately 1.4 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Moderately glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color of upper surface of young             foliage: 137B with midvein of 144D. Color of lower surface             of young foliage: Closest to 138A with midvein of 138B.             Color of upper surface of mature foliage: 137A with venation             of 144A to indistinguishable. Color of lower surface of             mature foliage: Between 138A and 138B with venation of 138D             to indistinguishable.         -   Petiole.—Length: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Texture: Moderately glandular             pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balcongorim’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year-round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             5 to 7 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Single, salverform. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 10. Fragrance: None detected.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 3.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oblong. Length:             Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.             Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: Petal portion 35D with             venation of N77A, tube portion 145A.         -   Corolla.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, fused to form a tube. Shape: Obovate.             Margin: Entire. Apex: Emaginate. Length from tube:             Approximately 1.1 cm. Length of free portion: Approximately             5.0 mm. Width: Approximately 1.3 cm. Texture of upper             surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Glandular             pubescent, dense along venation. Gland color: Colorless,             transparent. Color of upper surface when first open: 35A to             35B with midveins of N77A. Color of lower surface when first             and fully open: 35D with 145C and midveins of N77A. Color of             upper surface when fully open: 32A to 32B transitioning to             25C with age, midveins of N77A and N34A at throat opening.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 6.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland             color: Colorless, transparent. Color of inner surface: 145C             with 154B near tube opening, venation of 145A. Color of             outer surface: 145C with venation of 145A.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, fused along lower half.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Broadly acute. Length:             Approximately 1.5 cm to 1.8 cm. Width: Approximately 3.0 mm             to 5.0 mm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Densely             glandular pubescent. Gland color: Colorless, transparent.             Color of upper surface: 137A. Color of lower surface: 137C             with 144A at base.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Acute angle to             stem. Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.0 mm. Texture: Densely glandular pubescent. Gland color:             Colorless, transparent. Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5,             basifixed. Stamen length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Filament             length of fixed portion: Approximately 4.0 mm. Filament             color: 145D. Anther shape: Bilobed, ovoid. Anther length:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Anther color: 8A. Pollen amount:             Abundant. Pollen color: 8C. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1             per flower. Pistil length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Stigma             shape: Funnel. Stigma length: Less than 1.0 mm. Stigma             color: 143A. Style length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Style             color: 145D. Ovary diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Ovary             color: 144A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Calibrachoa has not been observed. 

What is claimed is: 1 A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Balcongorim’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 